Hearing Aids Can Also Be Used To Lessen The Effects Of Profound Deafness

Hearing loss has many causes and ranges in severity from mild to profound.  Patients with profound hearing loss are also referred to as deaf, as their ability to hear sounds is limited to sound levels of 90-95 decibels or more.  Generally, hearing loss is a gradual lessening of the ability of the ear to hear normal sounds.  People who are considered to have normal hearing can hear sounds as low as 0-20 decibels. People with normal hearing have no trouble following conversation, even at fairly high ambient noise levels.  

Hearing loss can be caused by a wide range of causes, both internal and external.  Internal causes of hearing loss vary from mechanical malfunction of the structure of the ear to a buildup of wax or fluid in the ear canal or inner ear.  External causes of hearing loss range from excessive noise, the most common cause of hearing loss, to head trauma which can damage the structure of the ear.  Anyone should take care when in an area where there may be excessive noise.  From construction zones to rock concerts, use of standard inexpensive ear plugs can greatly protect someone from hearing loss.

Although hearing loss can progress gradually from mild to profound, it can also maintain itself at a particular level of severity for long periods of time.  Hearing loss can also strike suddenly when caused by illness, high fever or head trauma.  The early diagnosis of any level of hearing loss can allow a patient to receive a prescription for hearing aid devices.  Accurate assessment of hearing loss and the use of hearing aids, especially digitally programmed hearing aids, can allow patients with hearing loss to experience a better quality of life.

In many who have been diagnosed with profound hearing loss cochlear implants have been shown for some to provide levels of hearing close to normal.  Cochlear implants are surgically implanted electronic devices that duplicate the mechanical action of the inner ear.  Even cases of profound hearing loss, with patients unable to hear any sounds less than 90 decibels, can benefit from the use of hearing aids.  While hearing aids will not allow the full return of normal hearing, they can allow patients to hear sounds at lower decibel levels.  This can, in some cases, be extremely rewarding.

Usually, patients diagnosed with profound hearing loss will be educated in the use of lip reading and sign language.  Both alternate methods of communication allow patients with profound hearing loss to express their feelings without words and also “hear” others who are trying to communicate with them.  While profound deafness cannot be completely alleviated by hearing aids, their use, in conjunction with other methods of assistance can improve the quality of life for many patients.

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